French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez detailed the "Ripost" bill, which proposes prison time and fines for inhaling nitrous oxide [1].
The legislation marks a significant escalation in the French government's effort to curb the misuse of "laughing gas" and other forms of urban delinquency. By criminalizing the act of inhalation itself, the state aims to shift the legal focus from the sellers to the users to deter public disturbances.
Under the proposed law, individuals caught inhaling nitrous oxide could face a fine of 3,500 euros [1]. The bill also allows for a maximum prison sentence of one year for the same offense [1]. Nuñez said the goal is to provide the state with a stronger legislative arsenal to respond to phenomena that disrupt public order [2].
Beyond substance abuse, the Ripost bill introduces broader security measures. These include the implementation of algorithmic video surveillance, and the authority to conduct searches without a formal requisition [3]. The minister said the government wants to enable the rapid sanctioning of infractions related to nitrous oxide [4].
There are conflicting reports regarding the timeline of the bill's introduction. Some reports indicate the text was formalized at the ministry on March 25, 2024 [5], while others cite a presentation at the Council of Ministers on March 4, 2026 [6]. Nuñez previously discussed the contours of the security project during a televised interview on May 24, 2024 [1].
The bill also targets other specific nuisances, including the use of fireworks, and urban "rodeos" involving motorized vehicles [5]. Nuñez said the government is announcing a hardening of the legislative arsenal against the scourge of nitrous oxide [7].
““We want to make it possible to quickly sanction offenses related to nitrous oxide,” said Laurent Nuñez.”
The Ripost bill represents a pivot toward a 'zero-tolerance' security model in France, combining public health crackdowns with expanded surveillance powers. By targeting the user rather than just the distributor of nitrous oxide, the government is treating substance misuse as a matter of public order and criminality rather than solely a health crisis.
